Illuminating device



Aug. 30,1927. 1,640,423

J. A. ONEIL ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed April 16, 1924 c I-nMentor:

c E James 1 \.ONeil,

' F ,by XQ M His Attorney.

Patented Au 30, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,640,423 PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. ONEIL, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ILLUMINATING DEVICE.

Application filed A rii e, 1924. SeriaLNo. 706,830.

My invention relates to illuminating devices. More particularly it-relates to de vices of this character in which reflectors are used.

It is often the case when a light unit is provided with a reflector that the region be hind the reflector is deprived ofso much light that the outline of the unit is lost and, therefore, the artistic eflect of the design is destroyed. Furthermore, the contrast presented between the light and dark regions is such that the unit becomes ob ectionable in that it producesa glare. It will be seen, therefore, thattheordinary street lighting unit of artistic design may not be properly used, for example, as a flood lighting unit because of the shadow cast by the reflector which is ordinarily used.

It is an object of my invention to provide a novel and improved type of reflector to avoid the objection above indicated. Therefore, artistic units may, as a result of my invention, be installed in front of buildings, a public building for instance, and made to flood light the building by using a reflector of the type herein described without impairing the beauty of the unit as a whole.

The details of my invention are hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a light unit with the novel reflector in elevation.-

Both the unit and reflector are shown in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the reflector and its base support, and Fig. 3 is a View in sectional elevation of a light unit in which the perforated reflector is shown above the light source. Behind the perforated reflector is shown a solid reflector for redirecting the rays that sift through the perforated reflector. 1

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the unit comprises a lamp 2 and a suitable socket 3. The lamp projects through a central opening in the plate 4;, which plate is secured to the collar 5, the latter resting on top of the frame 6. The globe 7 rests-in turn upon the collar enclosing the lamp 2 as well as the reflector 8, which latter is secured in any suitable manner about the lamp 2. As shown in the drawing, the reflector is provided with a flange 9 which is bolted or welded to the plate 4: as indicated. It will be seen that if thereflector 8 were solid,

all of the light from the lamp 2 would be cut off from the major portion of the globe 7 which would give'it an odd appearance. I have found that by perforating the reflector, as indicated in the drawing, a suflicient amount of light filters through the perforations to light up the globe all over and thereby preserving the pleasing effect of the design. g

A reflector of this type may be made from a silver plated copper or polished aluminum. The material from which the reflectors are to be made may be perforated beforehand and spun or formed into the desired shape. I have found that satisfactory results may be obtained by using, for example, a mesh of 85 perforations to the square'inch. In some instances the number may be increased of the mesh will be varied depending upon the results desired. It will be seen, therefore, that with my invention a. small per cent of the light directed toward the reflector sifts through. I have found it satisfactory if in a unit area of the perforated surface the light that goes through is 10% of the total light that would otherwise strike the area if it were not perforated. The size of the holes may also be varied to let in, more or less light. light that sifts through may be cut down by reducing the size of the openings or increased to 12%, for example, by increasing the size of the holes.

It will be understood that the principle of my invention may be applied to reflectors of any shape or design. It is applicable as well to dome reflectors as to reflectors of other types. It will also be understood that the shape of the perforations may be varied. They may be round, oblong, or square, for example. Toward the margin of the reflector the size of the perforations may be increased as indicated in Fig. 3, the object being to avoid a sharp demarkation between The amount of,

to 120 or 210. The fineness or coarseness the shadow cast by the edge of the reflector and the illuminated region unobstructed by anyportion of the reflector. Instead'of the larger size holes being provided along the rim of the reflector serrated indentations may be substituted, the object being to allow the bright illuminated region to merge gradually into the shaded region without producing. too sudden a contrast. The perforated reflector may be used in other relations than Within a globe. This is indicated, for eX- ample, in Fig. 3. In this figure the reflector is shown surrounding the source of light and presents the appearance of a dome, and above the perforated reflector there may be another reflector Which serves to redirect the beams A and B which filter through the perforations.

The type oi reflector shown in Fig. 3 Will, of course, give symmetric distribution, but asymmetric distribution may be obtained by selecting a proper shape just as easily With the perforated reflector as with any other.

While I have shown and described a specific form of my invention, it Will be understood that I do not so limit myself, inasmuch as variations will be readily sugby Letters Patent of the United States, is,

A lighting unit comprising a globe, a source or light, a reticular trough reflector,

said light source being located along the axis of the globe, said reflector being located between the light source and the globe, the axis of the refiector extending transverse a plane at right angles to the axis of the globe and crossing the axis 01 the globe.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this Twelfth day of April, 1924.

JAlfiES A. ONEIL. 

